Rim to the Lips: Italia!

Part 2 of the European vacation started on January 4th. We sadly said goodbye to Valhalla, Cuncle Chad, & Erika, but gladly left the pouring rain of Chamonix. We hit sunshine and 65 degrees as we headed south to Pecetto.

Out of the hills and into the sunset

Poppie, Happy as Pie, at Ristorante I Sibilla

starting the day properly with a cappuccio at Ristretto

and then cappuccio #2, where everybody knows your name.....

stroll through Torino

wine tasting at Borgogno

No Name, a protest against the unnecessary bureaucracy surrounding wine labelling & certification

(There are 12 controls in Italy, and only 4 in France)

a few more rides in the glass elevator, free entertainment while the adults taste

souvenirs

Siblings in Barbaresco

the real Santa Vittoria!

Mom ending on a strong note at the Pecetto's Ciliegia d'Oro. :)

Thank you Mom & Dad for making it all happen, and to all of you who made the effort to come to our neck of the woods. Family that plays together, stays together. Love you all!

Rim to the Lips in Chamonix: Snowcats, Fondue & Midnight Sledding

What do you give your 60+ year old parents for Christmas? This of course.

Our army truck came barreling down the icy road, just in time to give us a lift.

some bewildered faces as we make our way blindly up the slopes to Refuge Tournieux

We step out after a bumpy 20 minute ride in the dark to this lovely looking place.

Everyone say cheese fondue

M&Ms provide the perfect combo of sweet and salty, an ode to Klemme

bellies full of wine and cheese, perfect time for a head lamp lit sled ride down the mountain

our instructions in french, and patchy english mean we are ready!

I think I laughed the entire way down the mountain. It was a 4 km sled ride, in absolute darkness, with a bit of fog. Poppie & Nonnie were troopers. The best moment was probably seeing my husbands cut out in the snow when he flew through the snow embankment. We can all laugh, because fortunately, he didn't get hurt!

Rim to the Lips in Chamonix: snow adventures

We eventually left Chef Carter and the crackling fire to explore....

a short sled to town

window shopping with the newlyweds

the Villanueva's at the central station

first day on the slopes!

Marco shredding like he's done this more than once in the past year 

Ray, Amy and her bun in the oven at 2,700 meters

italian Colettis in the french alps

Day 3 in paradise on top of Brevent gondola

i was thinking of my mother in law Ellen Coletti, and how much she would have enjoyed this ride.

our band cover shot

Eric's 30th birthday jump

down below, more sledding fun with Nonnie Bee

The start of the Vallee Blanche 26 km ski run that we'll have to do next time

Meanwhile.....it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Luca on skis!

June gives Luca a congratulatory hug after he graduates from ski school. So proud!

Rim to the Lips in Chamonix: Getting Cozy

After planning and dreaming for over 8 months, the Ellingson Family and "others" gathered in Chamonix, France in cozy, but room to spare, Chalet Valhalla. There was a bedroom for everyone and the perfect open dining and living room space for the kids to run around, while the adults shared a glass or cautiously lifted the cup.

Christmas part II in front of the hearth

Chef Carter presents his first award winning dish of the week, Melt in your mouth gnocchi with crispy sage and roasted hazelnuts. 

our view

to go outside or to stay, that is the question

the Hello Goodbye window

putting eachother to sleep

kid time, and big kid time

katcho?

daily hot tub dip

a girl can never have too many bags

one happy family

5 liters of Barolo to ring in the New Year

Happy 2015!